5-400 Firearms Requirements and Policies

5‑401 MPD ARMORY (11/27/02)

Department-owned armament shall be transferred only through the MPD Rangemaster. Commanders may make temporary loans within the department to meet emergency needs, but the Rangemaster must be notified as soon as practical.

Only those with the rank of Captain and above, the on‑duty Watch Commander, the Rangemaster, or those working for the Rangemaster, are authorized to approve access to the MPD Armory.

Exception: Weapons and other armaments belonging to the Emergency Response Unit (ERU) are excluded from this section. These armaments shall be transferred through the ERU Commander or the ERU Coordinator.

5-402 CRITICAL INCIDENTS – LOANER HANDGUN (01/31/02) (02/06/12)

Following a Critical Incident, if an involved MPD officer is required to surrender his/her duty handgun, the Homicide Unit will provide a loaner handgun to the involved officer.

Prior to returning to duty, the involved officer shall contact the MPD Range during normal business hours to receive a loaner handgun similar to the type of gun the officer has declared as a duty weapon.

After receiving the loaner handgun from the Range, the involved officer shall return the loaner gun to the Homicide Unit.

The involved officer will be allowed to carry the Range-issued loaner handgun as a duty handgun until the investigating agency returns the officer’s duty handgun.

5-403 FIREARMS - CIVILIAN PERSONNEL (01/21/03) (02/06/12)

(C-D)

Civilian personnel are prohibited from handling loaded firearms while at work unless they have attended and completed firearms familiarization training sponsored by the MPD Range or possess a valid permit to carry. Civilian personnel shall not possess personal firearms while at work.

5‑404 FIREARMS AUTHORIZED FOR OFF‑DUTY USE (11/27/02)

(C-D)

The decision to carry a handgun while off‑duty is left to the personal preference of each officer. The MPD prohibits any officer from carrying a handgun or ammunition off‑duty while using or under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

Officers are permitted to carry off‑duty only those handguns they have been certified to carry on‑duty. The City of Minneapolis assumes no liability for any officer using a handgun off duty that has not been authorized and approved for on‑duty use and for which the Rangemaster has not certified the officer.

5-404.01 SECURING FIREARMS OFF-DUTY (11/27/02)

(A-D)

Officers, when off-duty, are responsible for the safe storage of their firearms, whether they are in a motor vehicle, in a residence, or other facility. Officers assume the responsibility for taking reasonable precautions that their firearms do not fall into the hands of minors and/or unauthorized persons.

5‑405 APPROVAL OF FIREARMS (11/27/02)

(A)

Range personnel must inspect all firearms before an officer may attempt to qualify with the firearm and be authorized to carry the firearm on duty or off duty. Range personnel may require officers to take additional training in addition to shooting a qualification course before allowing an officer to carry a specific firearm.

A firearm shall be resubmitted to the Rangemaster for inspection and approval when:

Directed by a supervisor;

The firearm has been altered; and/or

The firearm has malfunctioned or is not working properly

5‑406 MAINTENANCE OF FIREARMS (11/27/02)

(A)

Officers shall maintain their firearm(s) in a clean, serviceable condition.

5‑407 AMMUNITION (11/27/02) (02/06/12)

(A-B)

Officers shall only carry MPD-approved ammunition. Ammunition specifications are available from the Range Master.

The MPD will provide the ammunition required for an officer’s declared handguns (up to two total). (02/06/12)

Ammunition issued for an officer’s declared handgun(s) will be replaced annually by the Range Master. (02/06/12)

Department shotguns should be loaded with MPD issued 00 Buck. If a situation arises where the spread of the buckshot becomes an issue or additional range or penetration is required shotgun slugs may be used. (02/06/12)

5-408 SHOTGUNS (11/27/02) (10/24/03) (02/06/12)

PURPOSE

To establish procedure for the use of Remington, Model 870 shotguns.

DEFINITIONS

Squad Ready: The shotgun shall have six rounds in the magazine with the hammer dropped (trigger pulled). There shall be no round in the chamber and the safety shall be in the “fire position.” The shotgun shall have a single strip of masking tape around the barrel and fore-grip with the preparing officer's initials, date and time written on the tape. (10/5/09) (02/06/12)

The shotgun shall be “squad ready” when in a vehicle. (12/18/06) (02/06/12)

1. At the start of a shift, uniformed officers assigned to a marked squad shall obtain a shotgun, inspect it and ensure the shotgun is set up squad ready. (02/06/12)

2. Upon completion of their shift, officer(s) shall remove the shotgun from the squad car for storage in the precinct or unit armory. When stored, the Remington, Model 870 shotgun shall have the slide open with no rounds in the weapon. (12/18/06)

5-409 RIFLES (03/31/06) (04/23/10) (08/01/11) (09/04/12)

PURPOSE

To establish policy and procedure for the use of Colt M-4, Colt M-16 A-1 and Smith & Wesson M&P 15X rifles. (08/01/11)

POLICY

Officers certified to carry the Colt M-4, Colt M-16 A-1 or Smith & Wesson (S&W) M&P 15X rifles are authorized to do so as part of their regular duty assignment. When deploying a rifle officers shall adhere to the United States and Minnesota Constitutions, and to all state and federal laws and MPD policies pertaining to the use of deadly force. (08/01/11) (09/04/12)

DEFINITIONS

Squad Ready: The rifle’s bolt is forward on an empty chamber with the safety on. The rifle shall have a 20 round magazine loaded with 18 rounds of issued duty ammunition inserted into the magazine well. If an officer chooses to use 30 round magazines the magazine shall be loaded with 28 rounds of issued duty ammunition. (08/01/11)

Authorized Magazines: Only magazines issued by the Range or brands of magazines approved by the Range shall be used. A list of approved magazines will be maintained at the Range. (08/01/11)

PROCEDURE / REGULATIONS

A. Certified Rifle Operators shall attend annual training and pass a qualification course to retain their certification. The certification course will be determined by the Range Master.

B. Officers assigned to the Rifle Program may carry a department issued Colt M-16 A-1 rifle or purchase a Colt M-4 or S&W M&P 15X rifle to carry on patrol. (08/01/11) (09/04/12)

1. Officers who elect to carry department issued Colt M-16 A-1 rifles will carry the rifle in the same condition as it was issued. Officers shall not add accessories to the rifle or alter it in any way. (08/01/11

2. Officers who elect to purchase a Colt M-4 or S&W M&P 15X rifle may only add accessories authorized by the MPD Range Master to the rifle. A list of these accessories will be maintained at the Range. (08/01/11) (09/04/12)

C. Any officer currently in the Rifle Program who has purchased his/her own S&W M&P 15X patrol rifle shall sign a Rifle Program Duty Declaration Form (MP-9068) which outlines the rules associated with carrying the rifle. This form shall be signed before a personally owned rifle may beused on patrol. The Rifle Program Duty Declaration Form will be maintained by the Range in the officer’s file. (08/01/11)

1. Rifles shall be “squad ready” when in a vehicle.2. Rifles shall be transported in one of two ways as follows:

a. In a squad mounted lock in the front passenger compartment of the vehicle, orb. Cased in the trunk of the vehicle. If the rifle is cased in the vehicle’s trunk it may be brought into the cabin of the vehicle prior to arriving on a call that will require use of the rifle.

3. At the end of an officer’s shift the rifle shall be unloaded, cased and locked in the officer’s locker.

a. When a suspect is out of range for a shotgun or handgun to be effective.b. Suspects are reasonably believed to be wearing protective body armor.c. Situations that an officer reasonably believes to meet active shooter criteria.d. When the unique features of the Colt M-4, Colt M-16 A-1 or S&W M&P 15X rifles provide a tactical advantage. (08/01/11) (09/04/12)

2. Colt M-4, Colt M-16 A-1 or S&W M&P 15X rifles should not be used or brought into buildings. (08/01/11) (09/04/12)

a. Notwithstanding the above, it may be necessary to use a rifle in a building if the call involves an active shooter, a suspect wearing protective body armor or other serious situations.b. Officers should be aware that serious damage may occur to their hearing or the hearing of others in close proximity to the area if a rifle is fired in a building.c. Officers should be aware of the area behind their intended target if they need to fire their rifles in an urban area.

3. When officers respond to a call where MPD policy requires that a CAPRS report be completed, officers shall document the deployment or use of the Colt M-4, Colt M-16 A-1 or S&W M&P 15X rifle in their statement. (08/01/11) (09/04/12)

F. A certified Colt M-4, Colt M-16 A-1 or S&W M&P 15X rifle operator who has used his or her rifle in violation of this policy or in an unsafe manner may be removed from the Rifle Program. (08/01/11) (09/04/12)

G. Failure to attend a scheduled rifle training session may result in removal from the Rifle Program.

5‑410 FIREARMS TRAINING REQUIREMENTS (11/27/02)

(A-D)

The Rangemaster is responsible for planning, implementing and conducting firearms training for all MPD sworn personnel. The Rangemaster is also responsible for operational activities of all sworn personnel and for ensuring that all personnel comply with the established policies, procedures and orders of the department. The Rangemaster reviews all officer-involved shootings for future or immediate training needs.

Range officers instruct sworn personnel in the proper use of authorized individual and MPD-owned firearms. They also are responsible for inspecting and determining the functional operation of firearms.

All sworn personnel are required, as a term and condition of employment, to obtain a "passing" score on the MPD-approved course of fire for each of the Range training periods established by the Training Unit. They must do so with their primary handgun and secondary handgun (if they intend to carry one).

Officers may be required to participate in additional firearms training at the discretion of the Training Unit as approved by the Administration.

Sworn personnel are also required to satisfactorily complete each course of fire with MPD-issued shotguns as conducted by Range personnel.

Any officer who fails to attend the MPD-approved course of fire for any given range training period because of a medically documented illness, temporary injury, IOD-related matter or non-medical excused absence from duty (i.e., LOA), will be required to do so upon their return to full duty. Officers returning to full duty shall be reassigned to a non-enforcement position by their Commander and will not be authorized to carry a firearm, on or off duty, until successfully completing the required course of fire.

Recruit officers must attain the minimum score required to "pass" the firearms qualification course conducted by MPD Range personnel. Failure to qualify is cause for termination of employment.

5-410.01 FAILURE TO QUALIFY (11/27/02)

(A-D)

"To Qualify" means obtaining the minimum passing score on any given MPD-approved course of fire with handguns, shotguns and other specialty firearms if required.

Officers who do not obtain a "passing" score on a required course of fire shall be given a "Notice of Failure to Qualify." This form will direct the officer to return on a given date and time for remedial training and/or refiring of the course. A copy of the "Notice of Failure to Qualify" (MP-6454) will be sent to the officer's Commander and another placed in the officer's Range file.

The Commander will immediately reassign the officer to a non-enforcement position until such time as he or she returns to the range and "passes" the course of fire. The officer is also prohibited from carrying or using MPD-authorized firearms, on or off duty, until satisfactory completion of the course.

Failure to qualify after remedial training may be cause for disciplinary action up to and including termination of employment.

5-410.02 FAILURE TO ATTEND FIREARMS TRAINING (11/27/02)

(A-B)

Commanders will be allocated sufficient range time to schedule all their officers for each required range training period. Make-up sessions may be scheduled if necessary.

Upon the completion of each firearms qualification period, officers who did not attend will be issued a "Notice of Failure to Attend Firearms Qualification Course" (MP-6453). A copy will be sent to the officer's Commander and a copy placed in the officer's Range file. The officer shall report to the Range on the specified date and time for remedial training and/or qualification.

Commanders will immediately reassign the officer to a non-enforcement position until such time as he or she returns to the Range and satisfactorily completes the course of fire. The officer is also prohibited from carrying or using MPD-authorized firearms, on or off duty, until satisfactory completion of the course.

A list of all officers who failed to report for firearms training during each qualification period will be forwarded to their respective Bureau Head. Failure to attend required firearms training, unless properly excused, will be cause for disciplinary action up to and including termination of employment.

5‑411 USE OF DEPARTMENT RANGE FACILITY (11/27/02)

(A)

The MPD Range facility may only be used by sworn law enforcement personnel or persons authorized by the Rangemaster. Sworn law enforcement personnel from agencies other than the MPD may be permitted to use the Range facility with the prior approval of the Chief of Police. In these instances, at least one Range staff officer must be present to monitor the use of the facility.

Only MPD-authorized ammunition and an officer's primary and secondary firearm may be used at an MPD Range facility.

5‑411.01 RANGE RULES ‑ INDOOR AND OUTDOOR (11/27/02)

(A-B)

The Rangemaster is the Commander of the MPD’s Range facilities. The following rules shall be adhered to by all personnel using the indoor or outdoor range facilities:

All weapons at the range should be treated as if they are loaded. (02/06/12)

Weapons shall be cased or holstered unless directed to do otherwise by the Rangemaster.

Trigger fingers will remain off the trigger until the Rangemaster gives the command to shoot.

Handling of weapons will be on command or by permission of range personnel only.

No handling of weapons will be permitted while persons are down range.

Possession and/or consumption of liquor or drugs is forbidden either immediately prior to or while at the range.

The Rangemaster may order anyone using the MPD’s Range to leave a Range facility for the violation of any of his/her commands or rules.

The Rangemaster may temporarily confiscate the weapon of any employee of the MPD pending a decision on the issue by the Chief of Police.

5‑412 DEPOSITING WEAPONS AT JAIL OR PROCESSING FACILITY (11/27/02)

(A-B)

Officers entering any area of a jail or processing facility shall follow all rules of the controlling agency as to the deposit of weapons immediately upon entering the facility.